The psychology of online behavior

by Nicola Fox Hamilton

The proliferation of social media platforms and our increasing reliance on the internet for connection and communication has caused the line between the “real” world and the online world to blur. So much of our lives can be impacted by online interactions—and not all those interactions are positive. Why does the internet seem to encourage bad behavior from some users? Why do we feel we need to share so much of our private lives with the online world? Is screen time really as addictive as the headlines say?

In the 10 lectures of The Psychology of Online Behavior, you will join Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton to look at the many ways our reliance on the internet has changed the way we interact with one another and has redrawn the boundaries of social life. You will explore the realms of online dating, gaming, and shopping, as well as examine the ways the internet allows for a variety of experiences, both positive and negative. As you dive into the nature of the virtual world, you will see how this technology has altered how we live in complex and ever-evolving ways.

With the knowledge you will glean from these lectures, you will be able to make more informed decisions about what you share and what you consume online and develop a more thorough understanding of 21st-century communication. As you explore what research tells us about online life, from misinformation and cyberbullying to the psychological benefits of online communities, you may find that you reexamine your own relationship with the internet—and the people on the other side of your screen.

01: The science behind the big debates

02: Is online communication different?

03: Who are we when we’re online?

04: Finding love online.

05: The brighter side of the internet

06: The darker side of the internet

07: A web of lies

08: Why we fall for cybercrimes

09: Online shopping

10: The big gaming debates

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Education, Technology

Audible Audio

First published May 19, 2022

Reviews

[Gilbert Stack]

I wasn’t certain about this Great Courses text when I decided to read it. I spend a lot of time online and frankly, like most people, I figured I already knew most of what anyone could tell me about doing it. Nd that was true. Nothing in this book really surprised me. What Hamilton does is organize all of those things you and others do online and talk about the evidence for what is good and bad. Is it addictive? Are games bad for you? What about misinformation and disinformation? (That was especially interesting as one of her major examples of misinformation is now thought to be a credible theory, which also says something about online information dissemination.)

I thought the weakest part of the text was when Hamilton talked about the prevalence of conspiracy theories and seemed to indicate that this was a problem for the credulous, but the Great Courses has a text on conspiracies in which the author says that research shows that a huge proportion of the population (I think it was 90%) including every group in society) believe at least one conspiracy theory. Strangely for me, the best section was on online shopping—a chapter I almost skipped—where Hamilton detailed strategies to get people to rush their purchasing process and therefore buy things they might not really want. Overall, I am glad I read this one.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Lee Kofman]

I actually hated this book. It made me angry. Not because it was mostly stating the obvious (e.g. that online communication is more controlled than real life interactions. Duh!), but because of how shallow the analysis of online life was there - and yet it was cloaked in academic-speak, pretending to be wise. The author treats online life as separate from offline life, whereas in reality you can no longer separate the two that easily and online influences are palpable in our daily reality. This writer/thinker seems to think spending a lot of time online is no big deal and that the connections we make there are basically as good as the ones in real life. I think this is a dangerous message, especially when it comes from a so-called expert.

[Julie]

There were a ton of good ideas to the basics and the comparisons between different users. I also really liked the data shared and the easy go-through of how statistics really work and data comparisons. That said, I expected it to be deeper, not as light as it was.

Would still recommend for anyone new into this and looking for basic stats.

[Julie Bouchonville]

Well, this book wasnt badly composed, but it was so incredibly introductory I feel it missed the point. Surely, anyone online enough to purchade an audiobook and listen to it through an app already knows more than what gets mentioned here.

So not bad, but i truly wasnt the target audience. I feel like young children or the elderly who have yet to familiarize themselves with this kind of technology would benefit the most.

[Brandon]

A bit repetitive but worth the information.

9/10

[Koleton]

I’ve really enjoyed the Great Courses on Audible. They use a podcast-like format to take dives into specific topics. What I like about this series is that they’re less fluff, more research-based, and very structured, unlike most podcasts. (Most of the Great Courses are free for Audible members.)

The author has a nice, nuanced view of technology and online usage. She discusses the various ways technology can impact us, both positively and negatively. She explores many areas of the worldwide web (texting, video chatting, social media, video games, and more). This was a very interesting set of lectures.

[Alex Shrugged]

I must be in a bad mood today, but I couldn't in good conscience rate this audio course any higher mostly because of the embarrassing things the professor said about President Trump and COVID-19. Now, at the time this audio course was published (May 2022) the conspiracy theories that she disparaged were difficult to discern whether true or false. She seemed to think it was obvious that they were false, but now almost a year later I hear reports from main stream media that they were true after all, or at least reasonably credible. Thus, the professor sounded ridiculous trying to tell us how to figure out what was true or false when she could not do so herself.

I suspect that it was a mistake for her to commit herself so early on these conspiracy theories when time would soon tell the truth or falsity of them.

I suggest listening to the audio course, "Conspiracies & Conspiracy Theories: What We Should and Shouldn't Believe - and Why" by Michael Shermer.

The rest of the course talks about the obvious (to me). Others might gain a lot from it.

I doubt I will listen to this audio course again.

[Mimi Stein]

Lots of things we already knew and may have experienced, but summarized and clarified. This information gets outdated quickly; I really wish there was more information regarding gaming, especially, and relationships between online conduct, diplomacy/cyberwar, and identity.

[Gigi]

Really interesting content, although for someone with deep knowledge of these topics it was a pretty basic overview of internet behaviours / groups / topics. More in-depth discussion, perhaps with more case studies, would’ve been even more interesting.

[Edie Kennard]

Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton’s The Psychology of Online Behavior is a fascinating, deeply engaging deep dive into how our digital lives impact our real-world psychology. Across 10 lectures, she doesn't pull any punches—she digs straight into the complex, often messy realities of 21st-century communication.

What makes this series stand out is its impressive breadth. Dr. Fox Hamilton explores virtually every corner of the modern web, covering texting, video chatting, social media, online dating, video games, shopping, and more. Rather than leaning on superficial takeaways, each lecture tackles tough questions: Why does the internet seem to bring out bad behavior in certain people? Is screen time actually as addictive as headlines claim? Why are we driven to broadcast our private lives to strangers?

She strikes a great balance between highlighting the dark sides of digital life—like cyberbullying and misinformation—and recognizing the genuine positives, such as the psychological support found in niche online communities. You walk away with a much clearer, research-backed understanding of how technology has redrawn the boundaries of human connection, making you naturally reflect on your own habits, what you consume, and what you choose to share.

An incredibly interesting and thought-provoking set of lectures. Highly recommended for anyone looking to make more informed decisions about their relationship with the screen.

[Toni]

Tho this might be considered intro-level for Great Courses or online psychology (Cyberpsychology), I'm not mad that it evoked or reinforced some concepts that I tend to push to the back of my mind and/or don't jump to the front of my daily thought processes. The moral panic or moral good debates for example.

L1 - The Science behind the Big Debates
L2 - Is Online Communication Different?
L3 - Who Are We When We're Online?
L4 - Finding Love Online
L5 - The Brighter Side of the Internet
L6 - The Darker Side of the Internet
L7 - A Web of Lies
L8 - Why We Fall for Cybercrimes
L9 - Online Shopping
L10 - The Big Gaming Debates

[Craig Amason]

Hamilton's set of lectures on online behavior is revealing on several levels. She helps listeners navigate the many different ways people interact online: how they create personas for engagement, how social media transforms communication, how online interaction can help or hinder relationships, and much more. For the most part, Hamilton takes a positive approach to most online activity, although she does include a lecture devoted to the dark side of the web and to the manipulative nature of online marketing, the pitfalls of online shopping, the spread of disinformation, and of course, stalking and bullying. I was surprised at the research she presents that suggests online gaming is not nearly as harmful or debilitating as many people think. This is a well-balanced overview of how the Internet has changed human behavior and is continuing to do so.

[Daniel]

A competent and at times thought provoking discussion of online behavior, which was particularly useful in identifying cognitive biases. The analysis is marred by the author’s editorializing, which calls into her question her objectivity, and her belief in the accuracy and neutrality of online fact checkers, and the algorithms which sanction even fairly harmless posts leads the reader to wonder just how many of her takes are objectively grounded.

[Dennis Murphy]

The Psychology of Online Behavior by Nicola Hamilton does not say much that will be new to people in the internet age. It is a light, amazon product that might answer some casual questions that you never thought to ask about. The more you've looked, however, the less this will provide. Hamilton is fine, but I wish this had more heft to it.

[Niamh]

Really, really basic stuff. Anyone living in life will know all of this already. I would not say that I'm particularly knowledgeable on this topic, but I don't think I learned a single thing.
At least it was free I guess 🤷

[Cristóbal Sepúlveda Cobo]

6/10

[Chrissie]

Four stars for an enjoyable listening experience, even though I knew a lot of what was discussed, as I spend a lot of time online!

[Samantha]

Interesting lecture about gaming that I'll have to revisit when my kids are older.

[Ilya Sandoval]

This is one of the best explanation of social media and internet! Everyone should listen to it

[Jill]

Too much of a leftwing liberal political spin.

[Kymberly]

Biased.
An unbiased book would give examples from both sides of the argument. Felt definitely pushing agendas here. Worst book from this series.

[Jeff J.]

Good overview. Both the pros and cons of online life are discussed. I appreciated the discussion of how the covid pandemic was managed by online behavior.

[Dee Pebbles]

Wonderful insight for ux/ui design

[cypher]

nice introduction on the topic.

[Janelle Reese]

Somewhat interesting to listen to while I cleaned, but no groundbreaking or shocking information.

[Lee]

A great little exploration of the psychology of the online world.